​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Zooplankton play a pivotal role in polar, temperate, and tropical marine ecosystems as well as in global biogeochemical cycles. They function as prey for commercially harvested fish, as grazers of primary production, and as drivers of carbon and nutrient cycles. Their population and community dynamics – including their growth, mortality, distribution, and diversity – structure the ecosystem.

Zooplankton species may be target to commercial harvesting such as Antarctic krill and other midwater species. At the same time, a changing environment influences their dynamics. Climate change is profoundly impacting marine ecosystems through changes in zooplankton. A combination of new technologies and techniques, together with classical in situ and laboratory studies, is required to understand changing ecosystems. In response to the need to understand zooplankton dynamics, their sensitivity to change, and the resulting effects on ecosystems, ICES and PICES are holding the 6th International Zooplankton Production Symposium as a forum to discuss zooplankton and their role in the global ecosystem.

Early career scientist awards at 6ZPS

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Piotr Margonski, Chair of the Awards Committee, presenting awards to the early career scientists. Left to right: Carolyn L Faithfull, Michael Blackett, Ana Luisa Moran Ahern, and Helena Hauss with her son on her shoulders. Hal Batchelder who led the Closing Ceremony in the background.​